Focus and Flourish

AI is changing the way we create, work, and run our businesses. And as photographers, that can feel both exciting and overwhelming.

In this episode of Focus & Flourish, we’re diving deep into how AI is already showing up in our photography businesses, from editing and pitching to content creation and idea generation.

But we’re not stopping there. We’re asking the bigger questions too: Will AI take over creative work? What’s the impact on the environment and society? And how can we, as photographers and creatives, build businesses that use AI thoughtfully while still giving back?

If you’ve ever wondered how to embrace AI without losing your artistry, or how to future-proof your creative business in an ethical, inspiring way, this episode is for you.

Focus & Flourish is a podcast for food photographers who are looking to start, grow and scale their creative business.

Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠📸

If you'd like to support our podcast, you can contribute by buying us a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠Your support means a lot! ♥️

We’re closing out Season 2 by sharing the biggest mistakes we’ve made in our food photography businesses (so you don’t have to).

From underpricing and overdelivering to ignoring our network and struggling with work-life balance, we’re laying it all out candidly and honestly. These are the things we wish we’d known earlier, and the hard-earned lessons that shaped how we work today.

Expect real talk about money, boundaries, productivity, and long-term growth. All that with plenty of takeaways you can apply to your own journey.

It’s the kind of episode we wish we had when we were starting out. See you there!

RESOURCES WE MENTION:

• Our 'Visual Storytelling & Photoshoot Planning' Guide
• How to set your pricing
• Fee negotiation and money discussions
• Winning Bigger Deals: The Art of Upselling and Negotiation

THANK YOU to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tether Tools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for sponsoring this season of the podcast 🧡

Use our code FOCUS10 for 10% off your next purchase in the Tether Tools store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tethertools.com/?ref=167.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Focus & Flourish is a podcast for food photographers who are looking to start, grow and scale their creative business.

Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠📸

If you'd like to support our podcast, you can contribute by buying us a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠Your support means a lot! ♥️

We’re pulling back the curtain on how we market our businesses to generate leads - no fluff, no gatekeeping.

In this episode, we’re sharing the marketing strategies that have genuinely worked to bring leads into our food photography businesses. From, Instagram through past projects, alternative social media platforms to targeted pitching a.k.a. reaching out to brands with specific project ideas in mind.

We also talk about how optimizing our websites and using location-based SEO helps clients find us organically.

Whether you're just starting out or trying to build more consistent leads, we’re giving you a real-world look at what’s working right now, and how you can make it work for you too.

THANK YOU to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tether Tools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for sponsoring this season of the podcast 🧡

Use our code FOCUS10 for 10% off your next purchase in the Tether Tools store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tethertools.com/?ref=167.⁠⁠⁠

Focus & Flourish is a podcast for food photographers who are looking to start, grow and scale their creative business.

Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ 📸

If you'd like to support our podcast, you can contribute by buying us a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Your support means a lot! ♥️

We’re firm believers that great photography is more about skill than kit.

Creativity, storytelling, and understanding light will always matter more than having the latest gear. But since many of you have asked, we’re pulling back the curtain on what we use to get the job done.

In this episode, we share the cameras, lenses, and tools we rely on in our food photography work and why we chose them.

We’re also chatting about our experience with Tether Tools (our Season 2 sponsor!) and how tethering has helped improve our workflow on set.

LINDA’S GEAR

BODY + LENSES:

• Sony a7c Mark II
• 24-70 mm lens
• 50 mm f/1.8
• 90 mm macro
• 35 mm
• 16-35 mm
• 70-200 mm

TRIPOD:

• Manfrotto Befree GT XPRO

LIGHTS:

• 2 x ZHIYUN MOLUS X100 Pro [Official] Video Light 100W with 2600mAh Battery

SOFTBOX:

• 90 cm octagonal soft box

MARTA’S GEAR

BODY + LENSES:

• Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
• Canon 50 mm f/1.4 EF USM
• Canon 100 mm f/2.8 L EF Macro IS USM
• Canon 24-70 mm f/2.8 L II EF USM
• K&F Concept Variable Fader ND Filter

TRIPOD:

Manfrotto MT055 XPRO 3 with ball head MHXPRO-BHQ2

LIGHTS:

• Godox TT685 Speedlight for Canon mounted onto a Bowens mount attached to a light stand

• Godox Trigger X2T for Canon
• Godox SL150W continuous video light

SOFTBOX:

• 80x120 cm soft box

THANK YOU to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tether Tools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for sponsoring this season of the podcast 🧡

Use our code FOCUS10 for 10% off your next purchase in the Tether Tools store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tethertools.com/?ref=167.⁠⁠

Focus & Flourish is a podcast for food photographers who are looking to start, grow and scale their creative business.

Follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠ 📸

If you'd like to support our podcast, you can contribute by buying us a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Your support means a lot! ♥️

Ever felt like walking away from it all? You’re not alone.

In this special crossover episode with Rosslyn and Mikyla from the Food Photography Corner Podcast, we’re getting real about the moments we almost gave up on our food photography journeys - and how we turned things around.

We talk about the early struggles, the biggest challenges (hello, money stress, burnout, and self-doubt), and the powerful turning points that helped us keep going. From mindset shifts to business wins, practical strategies, and the support systems that lifted us up - this is a raw and honest look at the reality behind the glossy images.

If you're in need of a reminder that you're not alone - and that growth is still possible - this one’s for you.

RESOURCES WE MENTION:

• 'The Mountain Is You' by Brianna Wiest
• Food Photography Corner Podcast (hosted by Rosslyn & Mikyla)

Focus & Flourish is a podcast for food photographers who are looking to start, grow and scale their creative business.

Follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠ 📸

If you'd like to support our podcast, you can contribute by buying us a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Your support means a lot! ♥️

One of the trickiest parts of running a creative business? Explaining your pricing in a way that feels confident, professional, and empathetic.

In this episode, we talk about how to educate clients on everything that goes into a photography project - from the planning, creative direction, and logistics, to your workflow, timelines, and what your fee actually includes. We also explore ways to communicate your value through branding tools.

And when objections come up? We talk about how to handle them with clarity and grace - whether it’s explaining your fee structure or responding when a client says, “That’s too expensive for us.”

THANK YOU to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tether Tools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for sponsoring this season of the podcast 🧡

Use our code FOCUS10 for 10% off your next purchase in the Tether Tools store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tethertools.com/?ref=167.⁠

RESOURCES WE MENTION:

• s01e06: Fee negotiation and money discussions
• s02e05: The Art of Upselling and Negotiation
• s02e06: How to Position Your Photography Services

Focus & Flourish is a podcast for food photographers who are looking to start, grow and scale their creative business.

Follow us on Instagram 📸

If you'd like to support our podcast, you can contribute by buying us a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Your support means a lot! ♥️

Many photographers struggle to communicate the true value of their work and as a result, their services are often seen as just another expense.

In this episode, we explore how to shift that perspective.

We discuss why F&B brands need strong visual content, the real pain points creatives help solve, and how impactful imagery can directly benefit a client’s business. From improving brand presence to driving sales, we break down the tangible value of what we do and how to confidently price your services to reflect it.

THANK YOU to ⁠⁠⁠⁠Tether Tools⁠⁠⁠⁠ for sponsoring this season of the podcast 🧡

Use our code FOCUS10 for 10% off your next purchase in the Tether Tools store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tethertools.com/?ref=167.⁠

RESOURCES WE MENTION:

The ChatGPT Prompt:

Create a buyer persona for a marketing director [Job Role] with [10 Years Experience] who works at a company in a in the [food and beverage industry] in Europe [Location] doing £50million [Average Annual Revenue] who is interested in purchasing [food photography services]. Include the following information:

Name: fictional nameResponsibilities: Top 5 roles or dutiesGoals: top 5 goals or motivationsChallenges: top 5 needs or challengesDaily Life: a short backstory including relevant emotions

Marta's socials:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://foodsbymarta.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Business Newsletter⁠⁠

Linda's socials:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lindahermansphotography.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

Focus & Flourish is a podcast for food photographers who are looking to start, grow and scale their creative business.

If you'd like to support our podcast, you can contribute by buying us a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Your support means a lot! ♥️

We’re diving into how to get clients on board with larger, longer-term contracts, and how to upsell your services strategically using practical tools.

From identifying the right opportunities to structuring offers that feel like a no-brainer, we’re sharing the real tactics that have helped us land our highest-profit jobs to date.

If you're ready to boost your revenue and build stronger, longer-lasting client relationships, this episode is for you.

THANK YOU to ⁠⁠⁠Tether Tools⁠⁠⁠ for sponsoring this season of the podcast 🧡

Use our code FOCUS10 for 10% off your next purchase in the Tether Tools store: ⁠⁠⁠https://tethertools.com/?ref=167.⁠

RESOURCES WE MENTION:

• ‘Getting to Yes’ by Roger Fisher, William Ury and Bruce Patton
• Fee Negotiation and Money Discussions

Marta's socials:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://foodsbymarta.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Business Newsletter⁠

Linda's socials:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lindahermansphotography.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠

Focus & Flourish is a podcast for food photographers who are looking to start, grow and scale their creative business.

If you'd like to support our podcast, you can contribute by buying us a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Your support means a lot! ♥️

Today, we sit down with the incredibly talented Yessica Duque, a commercial food photographer known for her bold visuals, meticulous styling, and empowering presence in the industry.

Yessica shares her journey into photography, the moments and mentors that shaped her path, and how she built a thriving business rooted in creativity. We dive into her shooting process, the importance of tethering (shoutout to Tether Tools!), and the tools that help make her worlflow efficient and professional.

Whether you're just starting out or scaling your food photography business, this conversation is full of insight, wisdom, and heart.

Yessica's Portfolio, Instagram and Podcast.

THANK YOU to ⁠⁠⁠Tether Tools⁠⁠⁠ for sponsoring this season of the podcast 🧡

Use our code FOCUS10 for 10% off your next purchase in the Tether Tools store: ⁠⁠⁠https://tethertools.com/?ref=167.⁠

Focus & Flourish is a podcast for food photographers who are looking to start, grow and scale their creative business.

If you'd like to support our podcast, you can contribute by buying us a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Your support means a lot! ♥️

In this episode, we uncover the ins and outs of restaurant photography - from how to break into the industry to pricing, workflows, contracts, gear, and more.

We share real challenges we’ve faced, tips on pitching to the right clients, and what really happens behind the scenes during a restaurant shoot.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your process, this episode is packed with practical advice and insights.

THANK YOU to ⁠⁠Tether Tools⁠⁠ for sponsoring this season of the podcast 🧡

Use our code FOCUS10 for 10% off your next purchase in the Tether Tools store: ⁠⁠https://tethertools.com/?ref=167.⁠

Inside this episode:

(00:00) - Intro

(00:30) - Welcome to the episode

(01:02) - Ways to get into restaurant photography

(06:56) - How to find the right restaurants to pitch to

(09:04) - Workflow for restaurant shoots

(14:52) - Typical timelines for restaurant projects

(18:16) - Gear we bring to a restaurant shoot

(20:10) - Contracts and licensing in restaurant photography

(23:34) - How to price restaurant work

(31:52) - The 20-60-20 rule in restaurant photography

(33:50) - Challenges we've faced and overcome

(41:21) - Bringing assistants to restaurant shoots

(45:43) - Until next time!

RESOURCES WE MENTION:

• How to set your pricing?
• Licensing and usage fees
• Client contracts

Marta's socials:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://foodsbymarta.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Business Newsletter

Linda's socials:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lindahermansphotography.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram

Focus & Flourish is a podcast for food photographers who are looking to start, grow and scale their creative business.

If you'd like to support our podcast, you can contribute by buying us a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠. Your support means a lot! ♥️